Opgegraven explosieven Possibly 1949

This photograph, “Opgegraven explosieven” by ANP shows us some recovered explosives. I am thinking about what it must have been like for ANP when they made this. Were they thinking about the physical work it took to unearth these explosives, the danger involved? Were they in a rush to document the scene before it changed? What about the history of those bombs, where they had been dropped, and the devastation they had wrought? The contrast in tones feels heavy, loaded, and tense. The man bends over the unearthed bombs and they are eerily still. There is a stillness and silence to the bombs, a terrible quietness and a sense of pent-up energy waiting to be unleashed. This photo resonates with the work of many other artists who are dealing with the aftermath of wars. ANP has created a work that speaks to the violence and destruction of war. It is a sobering reminder of the human cost of conflict, but also a testament to the resilience and determination of those who work to uncover the buried wounds of war.